Samuel Palmer (1805–1881)
What is Samuel Palmer’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 170 auction results for Samuel Palmer at 20 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,150 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,386–$12,626, n=20). The auction record is $2,197,383 for A Shepherd leading his flock under the full moon (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Shepherd leading his flock under the full moon | Black watercolour over black chalk, heightened with scratching out, on card | $2,197,383 | Sotheby's | Jul 2021 |
| 2 | Oak tree and beech, Lullingstone Park, 1828 | Ink | $1,142,934 | Christie's | Jun 2000 |
| 3 | Vesuvius, Italy | Watercolor | $336,000 | Sotheby's | Feb 2025 |
| 4 | A cornfield with windmill and spire seen under a crescent moon, 1805 | Ink | $196,782 | Christie's | Jul 2009 |
| 5 | The Rising Moon, 1805 | Pencil | $180,704 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 6 | Tintern Abbey, Wales | Watercolor and bodycolor over traces of pencil, heightened with gum arabic | $152,400 | Sotheby's | Jan 2024 |
| 7 | The broken bridge, 1805 | Pencil | $52,904 | Christie's | Nov 2003 |
| 8 | Portrait of George Richmond, 1805 | Wove paper | $45,121 | Bonhams | Dec 2023 |
| 9 | The Goatherd, 1805 | Pencil | $40,658 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 10 | St. Paul Landing in Italy, 1805 | Gouache | $40,000 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 18 | $26,012 |
| Other | 12 | $15,600 |
| Prints | 109 | $1,686 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $27,977 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 121 | $2,134 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 170 results from 20 houses · How we compute these figures
Samuel Palmer is a British (modern) artist with 187 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $1,798. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Samuel Palmer sold in 2026 for $4,762, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Samuel Palmer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Samuel Palmer on OpeningBid →What is a Samuel Palmer work worth?
Across 160 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Samuel Palmer work is $1,798.
The median Samuel Palmer print sells for $1,300 across 119 lots.
The median Samuel Palmer work on paper sells for $26,000 across 29 lots.
The median Samuel Palmer painting sells for $15,539 across 7 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Samuel Palmer prints typically sell for $682–$2,775 (the middle half of 112 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Samuel Palmer work on papers typically sell for $2,142–$40,658 (the middle half of 25 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 134 | $1,300†‡ | $18,680 | 88.8% | 2026-09-30 |
| Paintings | 9 | $15,539‡ | $330,848‡ | 77.8% | 2025-07-02 |
| Works on Paper | 32 | $26,000†‡ | $2.2M | 90.6% | 2025-07-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $196,782‡ | $2.2M | — | 2025-07-02 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Samuel Palmer's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (134 lots) median $1,300 with 88.8% sell-through. Paintings (9 lots) median $15,539, record $330,848. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Samuel Palmer painting sells for around 12× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $196,782.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 112 | $682–$2,775†‡ | $1,259†‡ | $18,680 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $11,303–$15,539 | $14,682 | $24,638 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $2,142–$40,658†‡ | $16,518†‡ | $2.2M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $2.2M |
| Works on Paper | 2000 | $1.1M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $330,848‡ |
| Paintings | 2024 | $26,023 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $18,680 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $12,350 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Samuel Palmer worth?
Across 160 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Samuel Palmer work is $1,798. The median Samuel Palmer print sells for $1,300 across 119 lots. The median Samuel Palmer work on paper sells for $26,000 across 29 lots. The median Samuel Palmer painting sells for $15,539 across 7 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Samuel Palmer prints typically sell for $682–$2,775 (the middle half of 112 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Samuel Palmer work on papers typically sell for $2,142–$40,658 (the middle half of 25 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Samuel Palmer print?
Based on 119 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Samuel Palmer print is $1,300. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Samuel Palmer's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Samuel Palmer print is $18,680.
What is the average price of a Samuel Palmer work on paper?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Samuel Palmer work on paper is $26,000. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Samuel Palmer's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Samuel Palmer work on paper is $2,197,382.
What is the average price of a small Samuel Palmer print?
Based on 112 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Samuel Palmer print (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,259, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a small Samuel Palmer work on paper?
Based on 25 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Samuel Palmer work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $16,518, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Samuel Palmer's auction record?
Samuel Palmer's auction record is $2,197,382, set in 2021.
See the full Samuel Palmer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Samuel Palmer on OpeningBid →